Blog

Zircon is currently developing software to log and analyse data produced by our client’s train carried signalling equipment. Data is generated by our client’s system and passed to the train carried management system, but wasn’t being logged for later analysis.

Zircon have been contracted to firstly develop a data logger and secondly to develop a generic tool to analyse these and other log files.

Zircon successfully demonstrated our software engineering capabilities for the rail industry at Railtex. Our stand featured a railway simulation platform based around a model railway. This simulates a full working railway, complete with:

• Full Interlocking;
• Trains running to a Timetable with Automatic Route Setting (ARS) operation;
• Operator Work Station;
• Train Graph Application;
• Timetable Edit Workstation;
• Condition Monitoring via Wireless Handheld Device.

The model railway mimics real life operation and is used by Zircon as a test bed to demonstrate new products and concepts to clients.

Zircon continues to meet the requirements of the Investors in People standard, having yet again passed the regular 3 year assessment. The assessor commented that Zircon’s “HR processes are strong, and continue to be strengthened on an ongoing basis” and that there “continues to be a very clear commitment to learning, training and development and this is clearly reinforced by the high investment that takes place”.

Zircon have also recently chosen to undertake The Skills Pledge, as a further commitment to ensure that their employees are skilled, competent and able to make a full contribution to the success of the organisation.

Zircon has started work gathering requirements for the next phase of our clients’ Automatic Route Setting System product development. Zircon has recently completed work on the first phase of the timetable processor element, and this next stage will add further functionality.

Gary has joined the Zircon team. Gary is a recent graduate from the University of West England having successfully graduated with a First Class BSc Hons Degree in Robotics.

Once again, Zircon Software has successfully passed the regular BSI audit of the ISO 9001:2000(TickIT) accredited quality system with no non-conformity’s identified.

Zircon Software has carried out the first successful Type Approval Test of a MOT Computerisation Handheld Device.

Zircon has been working with VOSA and Siemens to develop the type approval procedure and test tool, and has also provided support to the handheld device developers as they develop their products.  The first of these products has now been successfully tested and received approval to be deployed in MOT test stations.